Blog Our blog provides readers an opportunity to hear from the Advance Illinois staff and partners on education policy issues affecting Illinois students and beyond. Gabriel Pellebon 1/22/26 Gabriel Pellebon 1/22/26 Comment: ‘The difference between between equity on paper and equity that students actually experience’ Read More Nmari Ward 1/22/26 Nmari Ward 1/22/26 Comment: ‘This is not an isolated issue—it is systemic’ Read More Maty Ortega Cruz 1/15/26 Maty Ortega Cruz 1/15/26 Welcome to the 2025–2027 Educator Advisory Council Cohort Read More Bravetta Hassell 1/12/26 Bravetta Hassell 1/12/26 On-the-Ground—More Than a Classroom: Where Students Feel Seen Read More Kate Buchanan 12/17/25 Kate Buchanan 12/17/25 The Importance of Statewide Kindergarten Readiness Data in Supporting Early Childhood in Illinois Read More Jeffery Jen 10/1/25 Jeffery Jen 10/1/25 On-the-Ground—From High School to College Success: How Dual Credit is Driving Change at JJC Read More Maty Ortega Cruz 10/1/25 Maty Ortega Cruz 10/1/25 On-the-Ground—The Hidden Crisis: Why Rural Districts Face Unique Teacher Workforce Challenges Read More Isabel Enad 10/1/25 Isabel Enad 10/1/25 On-the-Ground—Advocating for Student Mental Health: The Power of Data and Programs Read More Kathleen Kimmey 10/1/25 Kathleen Kimmey 10/1/25 On-the-Ground—Inside Illinois’ Rising Cost of Child Care Read More Eucarol Juarez 8/13/25 Eucarol Juarez 8/13/25 Federal Impact—Funding and Programs that Support Student Learning and Needs Read More Bravetta Hassell 8/12/25 Bravetta Hassell 8/12/25 Federal Impact—Resilient in the Face of Cuts Read More Advance Illinois 7/10/25 Advance Illinois 7/10/25 Guest Post From We, the Village (WTV) - Day in the Life: The Impact of ECACE Read More Bravetta Hassell 7/8/25 Bravetta Hassell 7/8/25 In Conversation with Andy Krackov: The Urgency and Impact of Data Storytelling Read More Advance Illinois 7/2/25 Advance Illinois 7/2/25 Guest Post From We, the Village (WTV) - Day in the Life: The Impact of ECACE Read More Advance Illinois 7/1/25 Advance Illinois 7/1/25 More Than Just a Seat at the Table: Reflections from Our Educator Advisory Council Read More Advance Illinois 5/22/25 Advance Illinois 5/22/25 ISU Rising Sophomore: College Affordability Would Change Everything Read More Bravetta Hassell 5/18/25 Bravetta Hassell 5/18/25 Federal Impact—A Home Visitor’s Mission: Continuing to Empower Families Amid Head Start Uncertainty Read More Eucarol Juarez 5/18/25 Eucarol Juarez 5/18/25 A Systemic Approach to Supporting the Whole Child is Crucial for Our State Read More Eyob Villa-Moges 5/10/25 Eyob Villa-Moges 5/10/25 Seeing the Full Picture: Introducing Illinois’ Children’s Adversity Index Read More Advance Illinois 5/9/25 Advance Illinois 5/9/25 Illinois Public Opinion of Public Higher Education Value and Need Highlights the Urgency for Funding Transformation Read More Newer Posts Older Posts
Gabriel Pellebon 1/22/26 Gabriel Pellebon 1/22/26 Comment: ‘The difference between between equity on paper and equity that students actually experience’ Read More
Nmari Ward 1/22/26 Nmari Ward 1/22/26 Comment: ‘This is not an isolated issue—it is systemic’ Read More
Maty Ortega Cruz 1/15/26 Maty Ortega Cruz 1/15/26 Welcome to the 2025–2027 Educator Advisory Council Cohort Read More
Bravetta Hassell 1/12/26 Bravetta Hassell 1/12/26 On-the-Ground—More Than a Classroom: Where Students Feel Seen Read More
Kate Buchanan 12/17/25 Kate Buchanan 12/17/25 The Importance of Statewide Kindergarten Readiness Data in Supporting Early Childhood in Illinois Read More
Jeffery Jen 10/1/25 Jeffery Jen 10/1/25 On-the-Ground—From High School to College Success: How Dual Credit is Driving Change at JJC Read More
Maty Ortega Cruz 10/1/25 Maty Ortega Cruz 10/1/25 On-the-Ground—The Hidden Crisis: Why Rural Districts Face Unique Teacher Workforce Challenges Read More
Isabel Enad 10/1/25 Isabel Enad 10/1/25 On-the-Ground—Advocating for Student Mental Health: The Power of Data and Programs Read More
Kathleen Kimmey 10/1/25 Kathleen Kimmey 10/1/25 On-the-Ground—Inside Illinois’ Rising Cost of Child Care Read More
Eucarol Juarez 8/13/25 Eucarol Juarez 8/13/25 Federal Impact—Funding and Programs that Support Student Learning and Needs Read More
Bravetta Hassell 8/12/25 Bravetta Hassell 8/12/25 Federal Impact—Resilient in the Face of Cuts Read More
Advance Illinois 7/10/25 Advance Illinois 7/10/25 Guest Post From We, the Village (WTV) - Day in the Life: The Impact of ECACE Read More
Bravetta Hassell 7/8/25 Bravetta Hassell 7/8/25 In Conversation with Andy Krackov: The Urgency and Impact of Data Storytelling Read More
Advance Illinois 7/2/25 Advance Illinois 7/2/25 Guest Post From We, the Village (WTV) - Day in the Life: The Impact of ECACE Read More
Advance Illinois 7/1/25 Advance Illinois 7/1/25 More Than Just a Seat at the Table: Reflections from Our Educator Advisory Council Read More
Advance Illinois 5/22/25 Advance Illinois 5/22/25 ISU Rising Sophomore: College Affordability Would Change Everything Read More
Bravetta Hassell 5/18/25 Bravetta Hassell 5/18/25 Federal Impact—A Home Visitor’s Mission: Continuing to Empower Families Amid Head Start Uncertainty Read More
Eucarol Juarez 5/18/25 Eucarol Juarez 5/18/25 A Systemic Approach to Supporting the Whole Child is Crucial for Our State Read More
Eyob Villa-Moges 5/10/25 Eyob Villa-Moges 5/10/25 Seeing the Full Picture: Introducing Illinois’ Children’s Adversity Index Read More
Advance Illinois 5/9/25 Advance Illinois 5/9/25 Illinois Public Opinion of Public Higher Education Value and Need Highlights the Urgency for Funding Transformation Read More
